Idaho couple nearly falls for $250K contest scam

PICABO, Idaho (CBS2) — An Idaho couple was on a cloud 9 after they were informed they had won $250,000.

It was the Publisher's Clearing House, the person on the other line claimed, who informed them of their new winnings. All they had to was make the 65-minute drive to a Walmart in Twin Falls and wire $850 to a random address in Florida.

They made the drive.

All they had to do was wire the funds and a publisher's representative would drive from Boise to give them their winnings. Thankfully, though, the couple grew suspicious -- worried that the $850 wouldn't be returned. They never sent the money.

The couple then received three days worth of insistent phone calls urging them to wire the funds.

“We’ve had publicized numerous scams over the years to protect our community, but this is the first one using Publishers Clearing House we have had reported,” said Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins. “Fortunately, this couple did not get scammed. We urge you to be very careful with these types of calls and not let anyone separate you from your hard-earned money.”